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TIKRIT, Iraq, May 29 (Reuters) - At least 12 insurgents were killed on Thursday in clashes with members of a U.S.-backed Iraqi neighbourhood patrol near the city of Tikrit, north of Baghdad, police said.

The fighting erupted when insurgents jumped out of the container of a fuel tanker and attacked the patrol, said police officials.

A police official said one of the insurgents blew himself up during the attack. He said 12 were killed, but did not clarify if the man who blew himself up was included in that number.

"It was a fuel tanker. There were 14 terrorists inside, including Sudanese and other Arabs," said Ahmed al-Dulaimi, the head of a regional neighbourhood patrol network.

"The driver shot at one of the (patrol) members, wounding him seriously. Then the clashes followed."

The neighbourhood patrols are credited with helping ease violence in Iraq but they have increasingly come under attack. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Caroline Drees)

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